Alexander Lukashenko: UK and Canada impose sanctions on Belarus leader over 'rigged' election
It comes following almost two months of protests against the Lukashenko regime following the disputed election on 9 August.
Tuesday 29 September 2020 18:58, UK
The UK and Canada have announced sanctions against Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko over claims of a rigged election and violence against protesters.
Mr Lukashenko's son Viktor and members of his government also face the penalties, including frozen assets and travel bans.
The eastern European nation has been gripped by protests since a disputed election on 9 August, with violence meted out against demonstrators and more than 12,000 arrested.
Despite many countries - including the UK - claiming the results were rigged, Mr Lukashenko was sworn in as president in a secret ceremony last week.
The sanctions are the first to be imposed on the Belarus leader by major Western powers.
UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: "Today the UK and Canada have sent a clear message by imposing sanctions against Alexander Lukashenko's violent and fraudulent regime.
"We don't accept the results of this rigged election.
"We will hold those responsible for the thuggery deployed against the Belarusian people to account and we will stand up for our values of democracy and human rights."
Canadian foreign minister François-Philippe Champagne said: "Canada will not stand by silently as the Government of Belarus continues to commit systematic human rights violations and shows no indication of being genuinely committed to finding a negotiated solution with opposition groups."
Mr Lukashenko, who has been in power for 26 years, was the landslide winner of the election and denies the result was rigged.
The European Union is also planning sanctions, but so far has not finalised its list.
The full list of those hit by the UK and Canada sanctions is:
- Alexander Lukashenko, president
- Viktor Lukashenko, his son and national security adviser
- Igor Petrovich Sergeenko, the president's chief of staff
- Yuri Karayev, the minister of internal affairs
- Alexander Barsukov, the chief of public security police
- Yuri Nazarenko, commander of internal troops
- Khazalbek Atabekov, deputy commander of internal troops
- Dmitry Balaba, commander of the special purpose police unit of Minsk